Kevin Mandolese Bio
Kevin Mandolese is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently on a professional try-out with the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League (AHL). Born on August 22, 2000, in Ottawa, Ontario, Mandolese was drafted in the sixth round, 157th overall, by the Ottawa Senators in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He has developed through the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and Ottawa’s minor-league affiliates before reaching the National Hockey League (NHL).
Standing 193 centimeters tall and weighing 89 kilograms, Mandolese uses his size and lateral mobility to read plays and challenge shooters. After time with the Ottawa Senators organization, he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in 2024 and later signed with the Laval Rocket and Charlotte Checkers on professional try-outs heading into the 2025-26 season.
Early Life and Background
Kevin Mandolese was born on August 22, 2000, in Ottawa, Ontario, and raised there until his family relocated to Montreal, Quebec, when he was six years old. Growing up in Quebec, he was introduced to organized hockey through the province’s competitive minor system and developed his goaltending skills in the Quebec midget AAA ranks.
He played his minor hockey for Collège Esther-Blondin in the Quebec midget AAA league, where his performances drew attention from major junior scouts. While playing in the QMJHL, Mandolese also pursued his education at Cape Breton University, majoring in business to balance his athletic and academic commitments.
Path to Professional Hockey
Mandolese was selected by the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in the QMJHL and made his major junior debut as a teenager. He recorded his first career QMJHL win on October 9, 2016, stopping pucks in a 5-3 victory over the Charlottetown Islanders, and returned to the Screaming Eagles for the 2017-18 season as a result of his early play.
During his sophomore campaign, Mandolese posted a 3.46 goals-against average and an .884 save percentage, performances that earned him invitations to represent Team Canada at both the Under-17 and Under-18 levels. His development led NHL Central Scouting to rank him second among all North American goaltenders eligible for the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, where the Ottawa Senators selected him in the sixth round, 157th overall.
Kevin Mandolese Career
Early Career (2018-2020)
After attending Ottawa’s rookie camp, Mandolese returned to the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles for the 2019-20 season, his fourth and final major junior campaign. The shortened season became his breakout year, as he became only the third Screaming Eagles goaltender to appear in 150 regular-season games, joining Marc-André Fleury and Olivier Roy on that list.
Mandolese finished the major junior season leading all QMJHL goaltenders in save percentage and ranking third in goals-against average. He was named to the QMJHL First All-Star Team and was a finalist for the CHL Goaltender of the Year Award. Alongside teammate Egor Sokolov, he became one of the first two Screaming Eagles players ever named QMJHL First Team All-Stars in the same season. On April 13, 2020, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Ottawa Senators.
Belleville Senators and NHL Debut (2021-2024)
When the 2020-21 season resumed, Mandolese was assigned to the Senators’ AHL affiliate, the Belleville Senators, where he recorded his first professional win in a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Marlies at Canadian Tire Centre. He also saw time with the ECHL’s Atlanta Gladiators during his development and split the 2022-23 season between Belleville and the Allen Americans.
On January 26, 2023, Mandolese was recalled by Ottawa as a backup following injuries to Cam Talbot and Mads Søgaard. He made his NHL debut on February 14, 2023, against the New York Islanders after Anton Forsberg was injured, stopping 46 of 48 shots in a 3-2 shootout victory. He went on to make two additional NHL starts that season, against the Boston Bruins and the Calgary Flames, before being returned to Belleville. He was recalled again in January 2024 and remained on Ottawa’s NHL roster until mid-February, though he did not appear in another game.
Colorado Avalanche Organization (2024-2025)
As a pending restricted free agent, Mandolese was traded by the Ottawa Senators, along with a 2026 seventh-round pick, to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick on July 15, 2024. The Avalanche signed him the following day to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2024-25 season, but he was placed on waivers during training camp and, after going unclaimed, was assigned to Colorado’s AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles.
Driving Style and Strengths
Mandolese is recognized by scouts and coaches for being positionally sound, with strong lateral mobility and an ability to read the play before shots are taken. His 193-centimeter frame allows him to cover the upper portion of the net effectively, and he has shown composure in high-pressure situations, including his 46-save NHL debut against the New York Islanders.
Notable Events and Milestones
His first NHL start, a shootout win over the Islanders in February 2023, stands as a career milestone, as does his 150th QMJHL regular-season game with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. Becoming a QMJHL First Team All-Star and a CHL Goaltender of the Year finalist in 2019-20 further cemented his reputation as one of the top junior goaltenders of his draft class.
Kevin Mandolese Career Wins
Kevin Mandolese’s career victories span the QMJHL, AHL, ECHL, and NHL levels, highlighted by his first major junior win in 2016 and his memorable NHL debut shootout victory in 2023. While his NHL wins total remains limited, his development wins at the AHL level have been steady.
QMJHL Highlights
Mandolese’s first QMJHL victory came on October 9, 2016, against the Charlottetown Islanders in a 5-3 decision. He went on to record over 150 regular-season appearances for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, finishing the 2019-20 season as the league leader in save percentage and earning QMJHL First All-Star Team honors.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond junior hockey, Mandolese earned his first professional win in the AHL with the Belleville Senators against the Toronto Marlies. He also collected wins during stints with the ECHL’s Atlanta Gladiators and Allen Americans, gaining experience across multiple North American leagues.
Kevin Mandolese Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Mandolese’s immediate family remain limited, though it is known that his family moved from Ottawa to Montreal when he was six years old, an early transition that helped immerse him in Quebec’s competitive hockey culture.
Personal Life
Mandolese currently resides in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He attended Cape Breton University, where he majored in business while continuing his hockey development with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, demonstrating a commitment to education alongside his professional athletic career.
2025 Season Performance
As a free agent following the expiration of his contract with the Colorado Avalanche, Mandolese went unsigned over the summer of 2025 and entered training camp looking for a new opportunity. On September 28, 2025, he was signed to a tryout contract with the Laval Rocket, the AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens, in hopes of earning a roster spot.
Following his release from the Rocket, Mandolese joined the Charlotte Checkers, the AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers, on a professional try-out on October 13, 2025. Most recently, he has joined the Syracuse Crunch on a professional try-out, continuing his pursuit of a stable AHL contract.
Heading into the remainder of 2025-26, Mandolese’s outlook depends on converting his try-out into a standard AHL deal. His NHL experience and strong AHL numbers from previous seasons with Belleville position him as a dependable depth goaltender capable of stepping into higher roles when injuries arise within an organization.